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Mauritius: Rights and Duties
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L'Express (Port Louis)
COLUMN
17 January 2008
Posted to the web 17 January 2008
Pauline ETIENNE
Port Louis
It is far from being the first episode of water shortage in this country. Such episodes recur every single year. There is always a time during summer when the CWA has to cut the water
supply for several hours to make sure our reservoirs will hold until the next rains. Each year, however, the feeling is that the situation is more serious with the effect of global warming. There is no doubt that what is happening on a larger scale can be felt on our small island and it's not surprising that drought periods are becoming longer and more serious.
So, this year may be one of the worst in water shortages. And the rains we had last week have not changed anything in the water supply - a sign that the situation is almost out of control. Having drinkable water is definitely everyone's legitimate right but, in exceptional situations, it is also a duty to preserve such a rare resource.
This is why I found it so hard to accept that an inhabitant of Bambous was cleaning the pavement in front of his house with a nozzle at 4 pm last Sunday Some irresponsible attitudes are hard to understand! Some people do not feel concerned about the lack of water in the country - I suppose it is a lack of education or civic responsibility !
The fact that the CWA repeats the same precautions and "threats" every year might not help to make citizens aware of the problem. They may feel the authorities are only crying wolf while it is about real issues that could have disastrous consequences on the people and the economy of this country !
In fact, the problem may be that people do not see why they should make a special effort while the CWA and other competent authorities do not play their role. It's been years since we've been told there are leakages in some reservoirs and some pipes are in a bad state. What has been done to change the situation? A lot of talk so far but no action and this does not depend on the parties in power!
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Saving water is the duty of each and every citizen in the short-term; making sure people have water in their taps is the authorities' duty in the longer-term. Of course, starting great works will cost big money But shouldn't water supply be a top priority of the government? If the situation deteriorates, it might be increasingly difficult to take action in the future!
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